The Blows of Fate
by Antoinette Clair
ISBN-10: 1904433049
Review by Heather Froeschl
Lives begin like any others, and are kindled with hope and promise for the future. Only they are not like any other lives. The son of a master confection baker, the son of a master violinist, and the daughter of a master surgeon grow up and become a trio of friends, two of which are destined for deep love. The three show promise of carrying on the family linesàGiuliano is a great singer in the opera, Stephan is apprentice in the bakery and Maria Luisa is to study to become a physician. The war is over and life is going on.
However, post war eastern Europe is not to be a peaceful haven. Under the grip of the communist regime everything is about to change. The bakery is seized ôfor the peopleö, apartments are brutally taken from residents, jobs are lost and people banned from making a living. Some are taken to concentration camps, some just disappear. Stephan and his sister are forced to leave Sofia and their father dies in the hospital. They exist for a short while in a hovel, by the grace of an elderly man. Maria Luisa is taken to a rural area and left to find shelter in a falling down cattle shed with her mother and father. It isnÆt long before her father is taken and killed on the mountain. Giuliano cannot escape Sofia. He must stay and support his parents after his father loses his position. The family is blacklisted, yet they cannot leave.
Somehow the three friends find a way to meet, and a plan is made for escape from Bulgaria. Two of them make good on the plan, while the third is left to uphold responsibility. Over the next 40 years the two will hold tight to their dreams and build on them. They become successful in spite of their cruel past. After 40 years, the communist regime comes to an end and the third is able to finally escape the life he has lived. Will he be able to find his true love? What surprises await him?
Antoinette Clair offers a look into the brutality of political change and an insightful glimpse into life as many lived it. In ôThe Blows of Fateö (2003), her characters are vivid and unforgettable; her story is one you will not soon forget. It is a stirring tale of love, raw beauty, talents and the reality of our dependence on government. Brava!
Sunday, May 4, 2003
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Non-Fiction/autobiography Review
Dare to Believe
by Mark I. Sharp
ISBN-10: 0971661804
Review by Heather Froeschl
Here is a story of one man's battle with Parkinson's Disease, and his victory over that pain. In this goal, Mark Sharp has been an inspiration as an author. He relays the immense struggles and life changes that took place for him and his family, and in the end we feel joy at his prognosis.
Here too, is a story of a Christian sharing his view of the gospel. If you are looking for guidance in this area, this is the book for you. I am certain that it will inspire many. However, if you are not interested in Mark's view of the power of God and the Christian viewpoint, I suggest that this is not a book for you. It could be argued that the book is pure propaganda, but since it portrays the events of this man's life, it is also a miraculous story.
The book is short but concise and to the point. The story is well written and the points of argument are well documented and introduced. While I do not agree with most of the content, the purpose of the author is fulfilled and I applaud him.
The basic idea of the book is comparing life with a game. There are rules to follow if you want to win and Mark spells out many of them and leads the reader to discover the rest on their own journey, and find their own coach waiting for them on the field. While my own coaches told me that winning is not important - it is how you play the game that counts, Mark's coach told him that winning is the most important, and that is the fun of the game. Different philosophies and different outlooks on life, lead to different appreciations for this title. Take it as you will. Either way, the joyous result of victory over a disease is a reason worth reading this one.
by Mark I. Sharp
ISBN-10: 0971661804
Review by Heather Froeschl
Here is a story of one man's battle with Parkinson's Disease, and his victory over that pain. In this goal, Mark Sharp has been an inspiration as an author. He relays the immense struggles and life changes that took place for him and his family, and in the end we feel joy at his prognosis.
Here too, is a story of a Christian sharing his view of the gospel. If you are looking for guidance in this area, this is the book for you. I am certain that it will inspire many. However, if you are not interested in Mark's view of the power of God and the Christian viewpoint, I suggest that this is not a book for you. It could be argued that the book is pure propaganda, but since it portrays the events of this man's life, it is also a miraculous story.
The book is short but concise and to the point. The story is well written and the points of argument are well documented and introduced. While I do not agree with most of the content, the purpose of the author is fulfilled and I applaud him.
The basic idea of the book is comparing life with a game. There are rules to follow if you want to win and Mark spells out many of them and leads the reader to discover the rest on their own journey, and find their own coach waiting for them on the field. While my own coaches told me that winning is not important - it is how you play the game that counts, Mark's coach told him that winning is the most important, and that is the fun of the game. Different philosophies and different outlooks on life, lead to different appreciations for this title. Take it as you will. Either way, the joyous result of victory over a disease is a reason worth reading this one.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Non-Fiction, Humor, Self Help Review
Green Things: Tips, Ideas, and Humor for the Garden and the Gardener
by Rhonda Watson
ISBN-10: 0972636609
Review by Heather Froeschl
An A to Z guide to all things garden, this is a gem of a book to have around. My copy is already dog-eared and cherished! Did you know that that Amaryllis flower bulb you got for Christmas could very well produce blooms for 75 years? Not in my hands, but if you follow the tips in the book yours just might! Did you know that Zinnias were grown by the ancient Aztecs? I had no idea!
You may have already nourished your plants but are unsure how to go about harvesting those fruits of your labor. The second section of ôGreen Thingsö is an abundance of tips on enjoying those rewards to the fullest. From Almonds to Zucchini, there is more to gathering the goods than sharing with neighbors. A bouquet of asparagus, complete with water and vase, will be a wonderful gift to yourself and will keep for several days. Boiling corn on the cob or even worse, boiling it in salted water, takes away most of its nutritional value and makes it tough to chew. Did you know that the strawberry is a member of the rose family, and is the only fruit to grow its seeds on the outside? Or that the watermelon is actually classified as a berry?
The final section of the book is right up my alley. Tending to the gardener is an imperative part of gardening! Here you will find tips on dealing with those muscle aches and back pains, stains on clothing, relaxing baths and the dreaded poison ivyàall with things from the garden.
Not forgetting the mind of the gardener, dispensed throughout the book are garden giggles that will turn your frustrated grub concerned frown upside down. Along with tidbits of trivia like the gross amount of insects we all consume by the year, the giggles will lighten your load. It helps to laugh about things like weeds growing at the precise rate of our pulling them out.
My advice is to buy two copies of this book, for once you show it to a friend, they will want to borrow it forever, and you'll want to keep one for yourself as a guide that you will return to time and time again. You never know when you'll want to know what sex your African violets are, or just what type of manure is perfect for your needs.
by Rhonda Watson
ISBN-10: 0972636609
Review by Heather Froeschl
An A to Z guide to all things garden, this is a gem of a book to have around. My copy is already dog-eared and cherished! Did you know that that Amaryllis flower bulb you got for Christmas could very well produce blooms for 75 years? Not in my hands, but if you follow the tips in the book yours just might! Did you know that Zinnias were grown by the ancient Aztecs? I had no idea!
You may have already nourished your plants but are unsure how to go about harvesting those fruits of your labor. The second section of ôGreen Thingsö is an abundance of tips on enjoying those rewards to the fullest. From Almonds to Zucchini, there is more to gathering the goods than sharing with neighbors. A bouquet of asparagus, complete with water and vase, will be a wonderful gift to yourself and will keep for several days. Boiling corn on the cob or even worse, boiling it in salted water, takes away most of its nutritional value and makes it tough to chew. Did you know that the strawberry is a member of the rose family, and is the only fruit to grow its seeds on the outside? Or that the watermelon is actually classified as a berry?
The final section of the book is right up my alley. Tending to the gardener is an imperative part of gardening! Here you will find tips on dealing with those muscle aches and back pains, stains on clothing, relaxing baths and the dreaded poison ivyàall with things from the garden.
Not forgetting the mind of the gardener, dispensed throughout the book are garden giggles that will turn your frustrated grub concerned frown upside down. Along with tidbits of trivia like the gross amount of insects we all consume by the year, the giggles will lighten your load. It helps to laugh about things like weeds growing at the precise rate of our pulling them out.
My advice is to buy two copies of this book, for once you show it to a friend, they will want to borrow it forever, and you'll want to keep one for yourself as a guide that you will return to time and time again. You never know when you'll want to know what sex your African violets are, or just what type of manure is perfect for your needs.
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Cookbook Review
Cooking With Bananas
by David Woods
ISBN-10: 0595242731
Review by Heather Froeschl
If I ever get stranded on an island covered with banana plants, I hope I have a copy of this book with me! David has covered the complete possibilities of the banana in "Cooking With Bananas". Call me conservative but I'll likely stick to the bread and dessert sections. However, for the more daring there are such dishes as Chicken and Banana Casserole, Banana Citrus Seafood Stew and Tropical Fruit Stir fry.
I don't know if Elvis preferred mayonnaise on his "Nanna" sandwiches or not, but David offers a recipe for one. My kids are very interested in the sweets section, including the Banana Nut Pops and Frozen Chocolate Bananas. Whatever gets them to eat more fruit is fine with me!
David has been kind enough to give us a little introduction to this versatile fruit, with nutrition values and choices of varieties available. I love David's cookbooks. They offer a new look at staple foods, with a unique twist. The occasional typo, here and there, only adds to the charm of these titles. Have fun with your food!
by David Woods
ISBN-10: 0595242731
Review by Heather Froeschl
If I ever get stranded on an island covered with banana plants, I hope I have a copy of this book with me! David has covered the complete possibilities of the banana in "Cooking With Bananas". Call me conservative but I'll likely stick to the bread and dessert sections. However, for the more daring there are such dishes as Chicken and Banana Casserole, Banana Citrus Seafood Stew and Tropical Fruit Stir fry.
I don't know if Elvis preferred mayonnaise on his "Nanna" sandwiches or not, but David offers a recipe for one. My kids are very interested in the sweets section, including the Banana Nut Pops and Frozen Chocolate Bananas. Whatever gets them to eat more fruit is fine with me!
David has been kind enough to give us a little introduction to this versatile fruit, with nutrition values and choices of varieties available. I love David's cookbooks. They offer a new look at staple foods, with a unique twist. The occasional typo, here and there, only adds to the charm of these titles. Have fun with your food!
Fiction/Paranormal Review
A Ghost Among Us
by Debora ElizaBeth Hill
ISBN-10: 1929374143
Review by Heather Froeschl
Never before have I encountered a ghost I like so much as Sir Jerome Kennington. We should all be so lucky to have a spirit so full of life in our homes.
Three women rent a house in Hampstead that comes furnished with antiques and its own resident earth bound spirit. What follows is a wonderful story of the three living together, as only women can, sharing and supporting each other through career challenges, men troubles and decisions of what to wear.
Deirdre Hall is a television show host who falls for a guest rock star. Charlotte Lewis is a photographer who wants desperately to capture the essence of the souls in London, and Natalie Ladd is a painter who ends up wowing the crowds at a gallery showing. In between the inspiring lives these ladies lead, they find the time to make love with their boyfriends, liberate a lab full of test animals and help sort out the mystery that has their ghost remaining on the earthly plain.
Jerome was murdered, and he needs to discover why and by whose hand. There is an evolution here of this lost soul. At first he can only be seen by the three women, the first in 200 years to do so. Then he discovers that others can see him as well. He was trapped in the house that at one time was part of his own estate, but as time goes by, with the women to help him, he finds he is able to travel about. Jerome shares with the girls, his understanding of life and death and reincarnation: shocking one of the boyfriends.
And then there is Deidre's boyfriend, the rock star, who looks exactly like Jerome. Though he is not a Kennington, it is possible that he is a descendant and turns out to be a clue to a piece of the puzzle.
The author has succeeded in bringing a group of friends to life for the reader, even the character who has been dead for so long. Attention to detail is given at just the right moments. The research that was involved, in portraying Jerome's story from the 1800's, was obviously enjoyed by the author, as the details of the period are wonderfully vibrant.
I savored this book to the very end, which turns out to not be the end after all. The second novel, Jerome's Quest, I am told will be available shortly. I look forward to it with much anticipation.
by Debora ElizaBeth Hill
ISBN-10: 1929374143
Review by Heather Froeschl
Never before have I encountered a ghost I like so much as Sir Jerome Kennington. We should all be so lucky to have a spirit so full of life in our homes.
Three women rent a house in Hampstead that comes furnished with antiques and its own resident earth bound spirit. What follows is a wonderful story of the three living together, as only women can, sharing and supporting each other through career challenges, men troubles and decisions of what to wear.
Deirdre Hall is a television show host who falls for a guest rock star. Charlotte Lewis is a photographer who wants desperately to capture the essence of the souls in London, and Natalie Ladd is a painter who ends up wowing the crowds at a gallery showing. In between the inspiring lives these ladies lead, they find the time to make love with their boyfriends, liberate a lab full of test animals and help sort out the mystery that has their ghost remaining on the earthly plain.
Jerome was murdered, and he needs to discover why and by whose hand. There is an evolution here of this lost soul. At first he can only be seen by the three women, the first in 200 years to do so. Then he discovers that others can see him as well. He was trapped in the house that at one time was part of his own estate, but as time goes by, with the women to help him, he finds he is able to travel about. Jerome shares with the girls, his understanding of life and death and reincarnation: shocking one of the boyfriends.
And then there is Deidre's boyfriend, the rock star, who looks exactly like Jerome. Though he is not a Kennington, it is possible that he is a descendant and turns out to be a clue to a piece of the puzzle.
The author has succeeded in bringing a group of friends to life for the reader, even the character who has been dead for so long. Attention to detail is given at just the right moments. The research that was involved, in portraying Jerome's story from the 1800's, was obviously enjoyed by the author, as the details of the period are wonderfully vibrant.
I savored this book to the very end, which turns out to not be the end after all. The second novel, Jerome's Quest, I am told will be available shortly. I look forward to it with much anticipation.
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Historic Novel Review
The Texas Republic
by Joe L. Blevins
ISBN-10: 1553691407
Review by Heather Froeschl
The birth of the great state of Texas was a bloody battle on many fronts. History can be quite interesting when told through the journal entries of a freed slave, a brother to the Cherokee, a soldier in Sam Houston's army.
Andrew teaches himself to read and write, using the Bible for his primer. In his journal he details life and death, chores and challenges and even sketches the important people and places in his life. Through his words we see the history of Texas and the people who built it. Attacked on the trail to a land grant, Andrew is wounded, his wife killed. The Cherokee take him in and heal him, adopting him as a brother. He later marries the tribe's dream interpreter, Say-te-qua and eventually they have a son.
The Cherokee are asked to be scouts for Sam Houston's army in the struggle to free the Texas territory from Mexico. Andrew and his brother-in-law, Red Bird, take up arms and join the battle. Through it all, Andrew finds comfort and guidance in the Bible, and finds a friend in Sam Houston.
Andrew's family grows with the birth of sons and the adoption of others. Their farming community develops into a settlement, complete with schoolhouse, church and blacksmith. Through trade with the forts and local tribespeople they are able to exist. For a while, the people live side by side in guarded harmony. Later, with the threat of Indian War, Andrew and Red Bird help Sam Houston to broker peace among the tribes.
This book is full of real history, from Texas being a Mexican state, through its being independent, to the days of its becoming the 28th state of the US. But more so, it is the history of the Native Americans and the freed slaves, and the settlers of the land. It is the description of the day to day living that makes this book so interesting. The realities of life and the struggles of conflict, an acknowledgement of the reality of how the native peoples were treated by our government, are details which cannot be overlooked.
The author has relayed stories that were passed down in his own family. He has compiled and drawn from research over the past 25 years in order to make this book as historically correct as possible. His illustrations add a colorful flavor to the tales and added glossaries give understanding to the reader. There are countless references to the Bible that add to the depth of the story and demonstrate the impact that it must have had on freed slaves, the native people, and settlers alike.
For anyone wishing to understand better the history of our nation or the state of Texas, I cannot think of a better source that would be as entertaining and personal.
by Joe L. Blevins
ISBN-10: 1553691407
Review by Heather Froeschl
The birth of the great state of Texas was a bloody battle on many fronts. History can be quite interesting when told through the journal entries of a freed slave, a brother to the Cherokee, a soldier in Sam Houston's army.
Andrew teaches himself to read and write, using the Bible for his primer. In his journal he details life and death, chores and challenges and even sketches the important people and places in his life. Through his words we see the history of Texas and the people who built it. Attacked on the trail to a land grant, Andrew is wounded, his wife killed. The Cherokee take him in and heal him, adopting him as a brother. He later marries the tribe's dream interpreter, Say-te-qua and eventually they have a son.
The Cherokee are asked to be scouts for Sam Houston's army in the struggle to free the Texas territory from Mexico. Andrew and his brother-in-law, Red Bird, take up arms and join the battle. Through it all, Andrew finds comfort and guidance in the Bible, and finds a friend in Sam Houston.
Andrew's family grows with the birth of sons and the adoption of others. Their farming community develops into a settlement, complete with schoolhouse, church and blacksmith. Through trade with the forts and local tribespeople they are able to exist. For a while, the people live side by side in guarded harmony. Later, with the threat of Indian War, Andrew and Red Bird help Sam Houston to broker peace among the tribes.
This book is full of real history, from Texas being a Mexican state, through its being independent, to the days of its becoming the 28th state of the US. But more so, it is the history of the Native Americans and the freed slaves, and the settlers of the land. It is the description of the day to day living that makes this book so interesting. The realities of life and the struggles of conflict, an acknowledgement of the reality of how the native peoples were treated by our government, are details which cannot be overlooked.
The author has relayed stories that were passed down in his own family. He has compiled and drawn from research over the past 25 years in order to make this book as historically correct as possible. His illustrations add a colorful flavor to the tales and added glossaries give understanding to the reader. There are countless references to the Bible that add to the depth of the story and demonstrate the impact that it must have had on freed slaves, the native people, and settlers alike.
For anyone wishing to understand better the history of our nation or the state of Texas, I cannot think of a better source that would be as entertaining and personal.
Friday, January 24, 2003
Non-Fiction/Spirituality Review
Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing
by Jed McKenna
ISBN-10: 0971435235
Review by Heather Froeschl
Bookstore shelves are filled with how-to books and numerous volumes telling us what we should think, believe and feel. There are aisles of texts that claim to be the path to enlightenment. If you read them all you might come away with one passage, here and there, that makes an impact on your soul's journey. You may indeed discover fodder for thought and contemplation. You will certainly find a good deal of conflicting information and a whole lot of stuff that just fills the pages between the covers and makes a pretty penny for the publishers. Where do you turn when you want some straight answers, but your neighborhood simply does not have it's own guru upon the highest hill?
"Spiritual Enlightenment, The Damnedest Thing" by Jed McKenna. Why this book? Why this guy? It takes a true master to take a topic that has been studied since humans could communicate and describe it in simplicity. It takes a teacher who is fluent in the language of butterflies to convey the message to the awaiting caterpillars, that it is indeed possible to make the transition through chrysalis and emerge glorious. One simply must let go of being a caterpillar. It is the how of it that complicates things for people.
Jed McKenna introduces the reader to his current life and the atmosphere that surrounds it, in eastern Iowa, where he lives among the students who have sought him out. Here we see the interaction of teacher and student and the wisdom that is relayed. Having been through it all already, Jed knows how to help his students by challenging them to find the answers for themselves, and not simply quoting the masters as law.
The book is not full of fluff and fancy. Jed does not take you by the hand and lead you through your journey. But he does take the mystery out of mysticism. He does show us what enlightenment is, or rather, is not. I have only one other time found an enlightenment book to be so readable and engaging as this. Referring to Walt Whitman, Tao Te Ching and Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Zen Buddhism, while using examples such as skydiving, Lara Croft, and watching a thunderstorm, Jed attempts to shed light on questions many of us have on our journeys. And he does. He explains why so many have failed to find enlightenment and how this can be avoided. Once you are on the journey though, once you have made the breakthrough, if it is right, you will become obsessed with uncovering the truth.
Each reader may find something just a bit different from the next to connect with and utilize in this book. You may uncover a truth within yourself or you may lose yourself. Which takes you further toward enlightenment? You'll have to read it and see what it does for you.
by Jed McKenna
ISBN-10: 0971435235
Review by Heather Froeschl
Bookstore shelves are filled with how-to books and numerous volumes telling us what we should think, believe and feel. There are aisles of texts that claim to be the path to enlightenment. If you read them all you might come away with one passage, here and there, that makes an impact on your soul's journey. You may indeed discover fodder for thought and contemplation. You will certainly find a good deal of conflicting information and a whole lot of stuff that just fills the pages between the covers and makes a pretty penny for the publishers. Where do you turn when you want some straight answers, but your neighborhood simply does not have it's own guru upon the highest hill?
"Spiritual Enlightenment, The Damnedest Thing" by Jed McKenna. Why this book? Why this guy? It takes a true master to take a topic that has been studied since humans could communicate and describe it in simplicity. It takes a teacher who is fluent in the language of butterflies to convey the message to the awaiting caterpillars, that it is indeed possible to make the transition through chrysalis and emerge glorious. One simply must let go of being a caterpillar. It is the how of it that complicates things for people.
Jed McKenna introduces the reader to his current life and the atmosphere that surrounds it, in eastern Iowa, where he lives among the students who have sought him out. Here we see the interaction of teacher and student and the wisdom that is relayed. Having been through it all already, Jed knows how to help his students by challenging them to find the answers for themselves, and not simply quoting the masters as law.
The book is not full of fluff and fancy. Jed does not take you by the hand and lead you through your journey. But he does take the mystery out of mysticism. He does show us what enlightenment is, or rather, is not. I have only one other time found an enlightenment book to be so readable and engaging as this. Referring to Walt Whitman, Tao Te Ching and Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Zen Buddhism, while using examples such as skydiving, Lara Croft, and watching a thunderstorm, Jed attempts to shed light on questions many of us have on our journeys. And he does. He explains why so many have failed to find enlightenment and how this can be avoided. Once you are on the journey though, once you have made the breakthrough, if it is right, you will become obsessed with uncovering the truth.
Each reader may find something just a bit different from the next to connect with and utilize in this book. You may uncover a truth within yourself or you may lose yourself. Which takes you further toward enlightenment? You'll have to read it and see what it does for you.
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